At the recent “Promoting High-Quality Development” press conference organized by the State Council Information Office of China, remarkable data was unveiled, showcasing the nation’s progress in the field of intellectual property (IP). As of June this year, China has made significant strides in fostering innovation and protecting IP rights, with a notable surge in both domestic patents and trademarks.
A surge in Domestic Invention Patents and Trademark Registration
As of June 2024, China has 4.425 million valid domestic invention patents. This figure highlights the country’s growing emphasis on innovation and the protection of intellectual property. Notably, enterprise invention patents now constitute 72.8% of this total, reflecting the increasing role of businesses in driving technological advancements. Additionally, China has seen a rise in high-value invention patents, with the number reaching 12.9 per 10,000 people, indicating a focus on quality as well as quantity.
Trademarks have also seen substantial growth, with the number of valid domestic registered trademarks reaching a record 45.909 million. This milestone underscores China’s commitment to fostering a robust brand protection environment, which is essential for encouraging entrepreneurship and market competitiveness.
Patent Utilization and Economic Impact
The first half of 2024 witnessed a 22.2% year-on-year increase in patent transfers and licenses by universities and research institutions across China. This growth in patent utilization signifies the effective translation of research and innovation into practical applications, contributing to economic development.
The impact of these IP activities is reflected in the added value of patent-intensive industries, which reached an impressive 15.3 trillion yuan, accounting for 12.7% of China’s GDP. This underscores the critical role that IP-intensive sectors play in driving the nation’s economic growth.
Moreover, from January to May, the total import and export of intellectual property usage fees hit 180 billion yuan, marking a year-on-year increase of 14.1%. Notably, the export of IP usage fees grew by 17.7%, outpacing import growth by 4.7 percentage points. This trend highlights China’s growing influence in the global IP market and its expanding role as a net exporter of intellectual property.
China’s commitment to international cooperation in the realm of IP is evident from the steady growth in foreign IP registrations. As of June, the number of valid foreign invention patents in China stood at 919,000, while registered trademarks reached 2.135 million. These figures reflect China’s growing attractiveness as a market for global innovation and brand protection.
The data presented at the “Promoting High-Quality Development” press conference underscores China’s significant achievements in the field of intellectual property. With a record number of patents and trademarks, increasing utilization of IP, and expanding international cooperation, China is firmly establishing itself as a global leader in innovation and intellectual property protection. As the country continues to prioritize high-quality development, these trends are likely to accelerate, further solidifying China’s position on the global IP stage.
